By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – They're at it again.
Freshman Na'Asha Robinson and junior Sarah Brandt, crowned OVC champions during Tennessee Tech's indoor track & field season while breaking school records, have opened the 2016 outdoor season by establishing school records on the first day of the Vanderbilt Black & Gold Invitational.
Robinson finished third overall in the 200-meter dash, the swiftest of nine Golden Eagle runners in the field. She sprinted the distance in 24.14 seconds, beating the school standard of 25.28 previously set in 2009 by Allison Price.
Freshman D'Airrien Jackson also ran a time faster than the previous school record, finishing fifth overall in 24.55 seconds. Junior Sharnique Leonce, running in her first event as a Golden Eagle, was 16th overall in 25.37 seconds.
The other school record came in the 1,500-meter run where Brandt claimed third place overall in school-record time of 4:30.41. It beat the school standard of 4:38.75, also set in 2009, by Keri Coulthard.
Freshman Raven Smith, who set the school indoor record in the triple jump, came close to the school mark in her first outdoor try in the event, clearing 37 feet, nine inches.
The Golden Eagles have numerous chances to continue breaking records on Saturday, with competitors in 11 individual events and two relays.
A complete list of Tech result on Friday's first day at Vanderbilt:
Hammer Throw (157' 3")– (23) Makayla Kington, 108' 10"
Triple Jump (38' 1.25") – (7) Raven Smith, 37' 9"
200m (25.28)– (3) Na'Asha Robinson, 24.14 (School Record)
(5) D'Airrien Jackson, 24.55 *
(16) Sharnique Leonce, 25.37
(27) Tiara Hymon, 25.83
(28) Jaydean Joseph, 25.84
(40) Morgan O'Neal, 26.52
(45) Crystal Liebenberg, 26.81
(50) Brittany McGee, 26.98
(54) Currin Washington, 27.33
1,500m 4:38.75) -- (3) Sarah Brandt, 4:30.41 (School Record)
(58) Jenna Storms, 5:03.50
5,000m (17:05.83) -- (14) Purity Murray, 18:04.86
* indicates time also broke previous school record
